No investigation against Technion rabbi

State Prosecutor refuses to open investigation against Technion rabbi who told religious students to avoid building with Christmas tree.

Contact Editor

Arutz Sheva Staff, 07/05/17 22:25

A Jewish man walks next to a Santa Claus doll in a shop in Jerusalem's Old City

Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Flash90

The State Prosecutor's Office has decided not to open an investigation against the rabbi of the Technion Institute of Technology, Rabbi Elad Dukov, for his remarks against the placing of a Christmas tree in the Technion student union building last December.

Rabbi Dukov called the presence of the tree "anti-Jewish" and said that it was worse than Christian symbols such as crosses. “It is not a Christian religious symbol but, even worse, a pagan one.”

Following the rabbi's statements, MK Yousef Jabareen (Joint Arab List) appealed to the Attorney General and demanded that a criminal investigation be opened against the rabbi for incitement to racism.

Attorney Shlomi Abramzon of the State Attorney's Office responded to MK Jabarin that Rabbi Dukov's remarks were meant to guide the religious students who were troubled by the placing of a Christian religious symbol in the public sphere on the campus, and did not constitute incitement.